Hello. I am the non-custodial parent of a 9 year old boy and 11 year old girl. I have been had the hardest time dealing with the childrens mother and now it has come to a day before my visits(once a week, 3 weekends a month, half of summer) she will text me saying the kids would rather stay home. I am a good father who love them, but I feel she has just manipulated them and is trying to alienate them from me.

She does not value me as a parent(mediator requested counseling for her on this along with her domestic violence issues, judge did not make it an order) and lets the children do whatever they want. She told me she wants the kids to make their own schedule. This has happened a few months ago where I showed up and the kids said they would rather stay, she said it's up to them and she won't tell them they should go with me. This has gotten worse and now more frequent.

The police in my city now do not deal with custody issues at all. They simply refer you to the court. What are my options? I show up, and if they don't want to go and she says they don't have to, I don't want to physically force them in to my car. I know court is inevitable, but I just feel lost now. Any ideas?